Tube assembly with interconnected tie members



13, 1970 M. Wis. ism-m 3,438,909 7 TUBE ASSEMBLYIWITH INTERCONNECTED TI'E MEMBERS Filed Feb. 7, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/Q I INVENTOR.

MORRIS w. s. BAHR' Arron/m TUBE ASSEMBLY WITH INTERCONNECTED TIE MEMBERS Jan 13, 1970 M. w. G. BAHR Filed Feb. 7. 1967 2 I SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. MORRIS W. QBAHR /W Afro/WW United States Patent US. Cl. 52577 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure is of a tie member which includes an elongated rod which carries a plurality of V-shaped spacer members spaced apart along the length of the rod. The tie members are used in pairs, with the members of a pair spaced apart so that they can receive a pluralityof hollow tube between them, the spacer members being positioned between the tubes and with the spacer members on one rod aligned with and overlapping the spacer members of the other rod. Thus positioned, the overlapping portions or apexes of the spacers of the two rods are twisted about each other to provide secure and rigid connection between them. The hollow tubes are thus held securely in place. Several pairs of such rods may be coupled to the tubes along their length as required to provide a suitably rigid assembly. The disclosure also includes a novel tool for performing the twisting operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the assembly of tubular members in a rigid package, and apparatus for preparing the assembly. Tube assemblies of this type can be used in many applications, with one application being in the construction industry in the preparation of concrete structures.

It has become common practice in the construction of reinforced concrete structures to build in optimum strength with minimum weight by including hollow core elements within the structure. Relatively large-diameter metal or paper tubes are commonly used for this purpose as core elements. To use such tubes as core elements, some means must be provided for holding the tubes together securely and in place before and during pouring of the concrete, and, at the present time, several different devices are available for this purpose. However, none of these available devices is as simple and eflicient, and performs the desired operation as well, as the apparatus of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, apparatus embodying the invention comprises a first tie member including a plurality of spacer members secured to a common support rod and spaced along the length of the support rod to receive tubes between them. A second similar tie member is provided in operative relation with the tubes and opposite the first member, with its spacer members aligned with and overlapping the spacer members of the first tie member. Thus positioned, the overlapping portions of the spacers of the two tie members are twisted about each other to provide secure and rigid connection between them. The hollow tubes are thus held together securely in a unitary assembly.

The invention also includes a novel tool for performing the above-described twisting operation. The tool includes a plate and a hook which are so related that the plate can engage one spacer member, while the hook engages the other, and a simple rotation of the member causes the two spacer members to twist with respect to each other without distorting or alfecting the tubes.

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THE DRAWING The invention is described in greater detail by reference to the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tie members and tool of the invention as they appear in use;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of apparatus embodying the invention at one stage in its use;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the lines 33 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a tool embodying the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the tool of FIG. 4 at one stage in its use;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the invention at another stage in its use; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a tube assembly using the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus of the invention may be used to provide a strong and rigid assembly of similar members such as tubes of metal, paper such as cardboard, or the like, generally hollow and having circular or other cross-sections, and oriented with their axes parallel. For convenience, tubular members 10 having a circular cross-section are shown.

The spacer or tie member of the invention 20 includes an elongated rod or bar 30 of steel or the like, to which are welded V-shaped spacer members 40 which have their legs 42 welded to the bar 30 and their apexes 44 extending away from the bar. The V-shaped members are spaced apart along the bar by a distance suitable for receiving between them the tubular members 10 of the desired diameter.

In practicing the invention, two or more pairs of tie members 20 are employed to form a rigid assembly of tubes. The members of each pair are positioned facing each other and aligned parallel with each other perpendicular to the axes of the tubes. The bars 30 of each pair are positioned on opposite sides of the tubes and extend on the tube assembly in contact with diametrically opposed portions of the surface, with their V-shaped spacer members 40 lying in the same plane and extending toward each other between adjacent tubes. The V-shaped members are so dimensioned that their apexes 44 overlap by an amount which permits them to be bent with respect to each other and interlocked to form a strong and rigid assembly. As can be seen in FIG. 6, when two V-shaped members are interlocked, the apex of one member overlaps the other and is bent behind and under the other while the other, which is under the one, is bent behind, up, and over the one. When the joint is completed, each locking member is now W-shaped with the center legs of the Ws interlocked. As mentioned above, two or more pairs of tie members 20 may be coupled together in this manner with the tubes between them, as shown in FIG. 3.

A tool 50 for performing the twisting operation is shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5. The tool includes a handle 56 which carries at one end a metal plate 60 having a top surface 64. At a convenient location on surface 64 is secured a V-shaped plate 70 which is secured to the surface of the plate by a post or web 74 and is thus raised above the plate. The tool is used by inserting the elevated plate 70 between the overlying apexes of two spacer members and engaging the upper apex thereby. With the tool thus positioned, the surface 64 of the plate 60 engages the lower apex. The tool is then rotated by means of the handle, and the upper and lower apexes are twisted with respect to each other until they are rigidly locked together with their relative positions interchanged. The tool perits the twisting and locking operation to be performed thout any of the parts applying pressure to the tubes bSltlOHBd betweeen the spacer members.

Of course, it is clear that the V-shaped spacers 40 are operly shaped and overlap each other sufficiently so at the tool 50 can be easily inserted for use and then moved after use.

What is claimed is:

1. A tube assembly comprising a plurality of tubes oriented parallel to each other side by side,

a locking assembly comprising first and second elongated bars in contact with opposed portions of each tube,

said first bar having first locking members and said second bar having second locking members,

said locking members comprising generally V-shaped members secured to said bars and extending into the spaces between adjacent tubes, with the members on said first bar each aligned with and having its apex overlying the apex of a member on said second bar, the overlying apex portions of the aligned locking members being bent backwardly around each other toward their respective bars so that each pair of aligned locking members are locked together.

2. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the apex of each first locking member extends over, around and under the apex of the associated second locking member and thus extends rearwardly toward its first bar,

the apex of each second locking member extends under, behind and over the apex of the associated first locking member and thus extends rearwardly toward its second bar,

the apexes of each first and second locking member thus being securely interlocked so that the associated first and second members and first and second bars are securely interlocked with said tubes between them.

3. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the apex of each first locking member extends over, around and under the apex of the associated second locking member and thus extends rearwardly towards its first bar,

the apex of each second locking member extends under,

behind and over the apex of the associated first locking member and thus extends rearwardly toward its second bar,

the apexes of each first and second locking member thus being securely interlocked so that the associated first and second members and first and second bars are securely interlocked with said tubes between them,

the apex of each V-shaped member when bent to engage the similarly bent apex of the associated V- shaped member having the configuration of a W, the center legs of the Ws of each pair of members engaging and interlocking each other.

4. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said assembly includes a plurality of said aligned and interlocked first and second elongated bars spaced apart along the lengths of said tubes.

5. Apparatus for use in holding a plurality of tubes in a unitary assembly comprising first and second elongated rods,

first V-shaped locking members spaced apart along the length of said first rod,

second V-shaped locking members spaced apart along the length of said second rod,

each first V-shaped member being aligned with a second V-shaped member to form locking pairs which are adapted to be positioned adjacent tubes in said assembly,

each first locking member of a pair extending toward the second locking member of the pair and having a leading end which overlaps the corresponding leading end of said second locking member,

the leading end of one member of a pair extending over, around and under the associated leading end of th other member of the pair and thus extending rearwardly toward its first rod,

the leading end of said other member extending under, behind and over the associated leading end of said first member an extending toward its second rod,

the leading ends of said members and the members themselves in each pair thus being securely interlocked.

6. The assembly defined in claim 5 wherein each V- shaped member when thus interlocked having the configuration of a W, the center legs of the Ws of each pair of members engaging and interlocking each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 868,244 10/1907 Backlin 5258 1,520,840 12/1924 Murray 52577 X 2,089,023 8/1937 Hahn 52690 X FOREIGN PATENTS 525,328 1/1954 Belgium.

OTHER REFERENCES Architectural Record, July 1960, p. 224. Engineering News-Record, Mar. 12, 1960, p. 9.

ALFRED C. PERI-1AM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

